Associate Data Engineer

Optum; Eden Prairie (MN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 107,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work option

Comprehensive benefits

Career development

Job summary

UnitedHealth Group's Enterprise Digital Experience Technology (EiMP) team seeks an Associate Data Engineer to design, build, and maintain scalable data pipelines and storage solutions. You will collaborate with data scientists, ML engineers, and cross-functional teams to support data pipelines and analytics, embedding enterprise-approved AI tools into daily workflows.

Remote work from anywhere in the U.S. is supported.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of data engineering experience and SQL/ETL proficiency.
• 2+ years of big data processing with Spark and Kafka.
• 1+ years analyzing data with cloud tools (AWS Athena).
• 1+ years exposure to AI tools, generative AI, or prompt engineering.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain scalable data pipelines and storage solutions.
• Collaborate with data scientists, ML engineers, and technical teams.
• Support data pipelines and analytics across healthcare data solutions.
• Embed enterprise-approved AI tools into daily workflows to streamline processes.
• Ensure data governance and security policies are followed.

Skills

Data engineering

Apache Spark

Apache Kafka

AWS Athena

AI tooling

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

AI tools

Job description

Improve the lives of others while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best.Here, you will find a culture guided by inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale.Join us to startCaring. Connecting. Growing together.

At Enterprise Digital Experience Technology; EiMP team, we are committed to developing cutting-edge applications and products that utilize our proprietary matching algorithm to optimize member experiences. We manage vast amounts of data with significant business impact, creating solutions that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the healthcare system. Our team is at the forefront of adopting next-generation technologies, constantly exploring new possibilities to drive meaningful change.

We are seeking an Associate Data Engineer to design, build, and maintain scalable data pipelines and storage solutions. In this role, you will collaborate closely with data scientists, machine learning engineers, and technical teams to support data pipelines and analytics. You will also embed enterprise-approved AI tools into your daily workflows, leveraging prompt engineering and generative AI tools to streamline processes, automate tasks, augment decision-making, and drive efficiency across healthcare data solutions.

You’ll enjoy the flexibility to telecommute* from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Assist in the development and maintenance of data pipelines for the Enterprise Individual Mastering Platform (EiMP), which consolidates individual data from multiple sources, including eligibility, pharmacy, and patient data
• Support real-time data ingestion using tools like Kafka, as well as batch processing using Spark
• Perform data analysis using AWS tools such as Athena to support various business needs
• Generate reports and dashboards to provide insights and support decision-making processes
• Participate in the monitoring and maintenance of data quality and integrity across various data sources
• Assist in resolving data-related issues and discrepancies to ensure accurate and reliable data for the organization
• Contribute to the creation and maintenance of documentation for data pipelines, processes, and procedures
• Ensure compliance with data governance and security policies
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including data scientists, analysts, and business stakeholders, to understand data requirements and deliver solutions
• Provide support for ad hoc data requests and troubleshooting under the supervision of senior team members
• Use enterprise-approved AI tools to streamline workflows, automate tasks, and drive continuous improvement
• Evaluate emerging trends to inform solution design and strategic innovation

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear directions on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• 2+ years of experience with data engineering, database query using SQL, and ETL tools
• 2+ years of experience with big data processing technologies (e.g., Apache Spark, Apache Kafka)
• 1+ years of experience analyzing data using cloud-based tools (e.g., AWS Athena)
• 1+ years of exposure to AI tools, generative AI tools, or prompt engineering in daily technical workflows
• Proven ability to troubleshoot data pipeline issues and collaborate effectively across cross-functional technical teams

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Data Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field
• Experience leveraging enterprise-approved AI tools and Large Language Models (LLMs) to optimize data engineering workflows
• Experience working with healthcare data domains (eligibility, pharmacy, or patient records)
• Experience establishing data governance, security compliance, and data quality monitoring controls

*All Telecommuters will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you’ll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The salary for this role will range from $60,200 to $107,400 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Application Deadline:

This will be posted for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone–of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location, and income–deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups, and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes — an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.

UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug - free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.

UnitedHealth Group is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or accommodation for any part of the application process, please call 1-866-566-8715 to be connected to Recruitment Services. Recruitment Services hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.

UnitedHealth Group is a registered service mark of UnitedHealth Group, Inc. The UnitedHealth Group name with the dimensional logo, as well as the dimensional logo alone, are both service marks for the UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.